The Sun. — London, England, 1864-10-10 00:00:00

The Prince and Princess of Wailes in Sweden. (From time limes' Special Correspondent.) STOCKHOLM, Oct. 3. Yesterday the Prince and Princess of - Wales, with the principal members of their suite, attended Di vine servile in the English chapel, a building of very unprepossessing exterior, but within furnished in all respects suitably. The congregation, for a foreign city, was considerable, and the great majo rity of those present appeared to be regular church goers. Hundreds of spectators, however, waiting to see their Royal Highnesses as they came and went, stood in the avenue which leads from the Place of Charles XIII,, the principal boulevard in Stock• holm, to the gardens in front of the two plain houses that have been adapted int erna lly t o th e purposes of a religious edifice. For the practice, no dJubt, due canonical and political authority can be pleaded, but to the ear of an English layman there always seems to be an omission—a friend's name wanting, as it were—when upon the Continent, in a Church of Engiand assembly, the prayer for the Queen of England and her family is not offered up. Nothing can be more proper than to show respect for local authority—but in desiring and in acknow lodging good government abroad there is no impro priety, to say the least, in desiring and acknow. ledging good government at home. In many fo reign countries the right of assembling for public worship is, or has been in times past, only extended to Englishmen because they are .Englishmen, and the omission in every such case of the prayer in question is the more marked because Divine ser vice is usually held in the house of the British am bassador, and therefore of the English Sovereign for the time being. In these days of synodical judgments and attempted revival of Church disci pline the point is one which the episcopal bench might very fairly consider. In Stockholm a new English church is on the point of being erected, which will not merely be more commodious internally, but will possess some claims to architectural beauty. Having accomplished—what is necessarily a work of much difficulty abroad— the procuring of funds for such an undertaking, it is to be hoped that the chaplain will not rela < his admirable efforts, but will remember that in the pre sent day good church music is becoming as essential a feature of the English service as worthy shrines at which to assemble. I❑ the course of the afternoon their Royal High nesses paid a visit to the Freemason Orphan Asylum, in which Prince Oscar,who is at the head, not merely of charitable effort, but of progress of every kind in Sweden, takes the deepest interest. Attended by the members of their suite they afterwards drove in open carriages for some time in the vicinity of Stockholm, dining in the evening with the Royal family at the palace. To day was devoted altogether to the second elk shooting expedition, which, just as light was failing and expectations were dying away, was crowned with success. The hunting party did not get back to town till late, when the prince pro ceeded at once to Ulriksdal. To-morrow morning, at 10 o'clock, the special train which is to convey their Royal Highnesses with the members of their suite to Gottenburg, en route for Copenhagen, will start from the terminus here. The distance, up wards of 200 miles, is ordinarily accomplished in something under 11 hours, being an increase in espe.dition of 21 hours from the time when the line was opened a couple of years ago. In the case of this special train it is expected that an additional 3} hours will be saved, thus accomplishing the land portion of ,the journey in eight hoar's. Two remark able features of the Swedish lines, which are under Government control, is that they keep time at the different statioLs to half a mir,u'e or so, and that a list of all the places at which the train is appointed to stop, with a reliable table of the amount of delay in each case, is leg,iTy printed and hung up in all f:e compartments of the carriages composing the train. Passengers and guards are thereby saved the fuss and worry of questions at every station; and persons given to the enjoyment of the good things of this life can settle beforehand in their own minds at which buffet they will leisurely descend, what refreshments it will be possible to obtain within the given interval, and may avoid that distressing spectacle so often witnessed at English railway re freshment rooms, where the good man, struggling with a bowl of scalding soup or coffee, is divided between the wish to pay his money and ge► value for it, and the necessity of complying with the urgent summons of the bell. The Royal yacht and the miniature squadron by which she is accompanied are already lying at Gut tenberg, so that the Prince will embark at once upon his arrival there. Prince Oscar will accom pany their Royal Highnesses in the special train, as will also Mr Hamilton and Mr Heneage of the British Legation. After the embarkation, there will probably be a delay of a couple of hours for dinner, bat it is expected that, except in the case of very bad weather, the yacht will put to sea the same night. And now that the Royal visit is on the eve of ending, a simple act of justice must be performed towards the Swedish Court and the Swedish nation. Tnis is to express, as far as it can be done in words, the gratitude, amounting to enthusiasm, which the members of the Royal party one and all feel at the reception they have experienced in this country. The visit was not one preearranged long beforehand, cr in which even an immediate acceptance of the invitation cud be returned. The strictly private nature of the stay in Denmark of their Riyal High nesses at first induced a doubt whether in extend ing their journey as far as Sweden there might not be something out of character with the family ex cursion originally planned. And after it had been decided to proceed to Stockholm, there still re mained a question whether at so advanced a season of the year it would be judicious for her Royal Highness to undertake the voyage. Under all these circumstances of hesitation and delicacy, the King proved the kindes;. and most considerate of hosts. He left it to the Prince and Princess to name tue time most convenient to themselves, as well as to fix the duration of their stay, and prac tically business of every kind has been relinquished by his Majesty in favour of the single object of contributing to the gratification of his guests, and making their time pass as enjoyably as possible. It has been the fashion to speak of the Court of Sweden as a French Court, and naturally many of the ideas and associations brought by Bernadotte to the north of Europe have survived him. "After the French," says the proverb, " the Swedes are the most charming people in Europe." But to the French grace of manner they have added the northern sin cerity, and whatever may have been the case in bygone generations there can be no doubt that in the present day it is the aim of the Swedish policy to lay the foundation of a sure and cordial alliance with England. With this object in view every possible opportunity is taken of paying court to Englishmen. The desire may be traced in a thou sand ways—not merely in the welcome and atten , • tions lavished upon the Prince and Princess of Wales, gratifying as these must be to the B ritish nation, but in special acts of politeness shown to Englishmen and particularly to members of the British Legation; especially also in the anxiety manifested that exact accounts of everything con nected with the royal visit should bo forwarded to England. The mercantile world may say, that after all these are empty compliments, and that they would prefer solid commercial advantages. The Swedish Curt,to the full extent of its power, has shown itself anxious to meet their views also. Agaiest the opposition of a strong Protectionist party, and notwithstanding the fact that in a c;untry of limited population and wealth, a com mensurate quick en i ng o f consumpt i on can h ar dl y be expected from diminished rates of duty, liberal revisions and reduction of the tariffs have been made, and unless the Board of Trade, as at present constituted, sho u ld prove too strong for the rest of the Ministry, further advances in the same direction may be looked for. 'Within the last c uplo of months even, a new law, conceived in a very liberal spirit towa r d s f ore i gners, ' received the sanction of the King, and h as b een promulgated with reference to the trade and in dustry of the kingdom. The rail ways will naturally prove most cffi(.ient inarument s in milk. ing the countries known to each other and establish ing a community of interests. For years past Sweden has possessed a very efficient system of in ternal water communication, some of Le line of steamers yielding as high a dividend as 20 per cent. and the majority producing a clear 10 per cent. to the proprietors, Bat of course when steamers could not run, the system of posting on defective roads operated as a practical barrier against travelling, and even the usually unimpeachable Murray is astray as to so many facts in his last edition that the country hitherto has been to all intents and purposes unknown. Two months hence, when the railway is completed from Malmoe to Stockholm, the case will be very different. There will be no more difficulty then in crossing over Sweden than there is at pre sent in getting through Denmark, while a sea voyage from Lubeck to Malmoe will occupy pres cisely the same time as to Copenhagen. This will be a very important consideration where English capital is flowing largely in the channel that it has begun to form for itself in developing the dormant mineral wealth of Sweden. Quite recently an English company has entered upon a survey of the Swedish mines, with the object of commencing ope rations extensively, and an English bank has been established in Sweden. These are indications that when the circumstances became known persons will not be wanting to take advantage of the present state of feeling in Sweden, which, politically and socially, is one of the great facts of the day. RAILWAY INTELLIGENCE, VICTORIAN. It appears from the report of the railway departs meat of the Board of Land and Works in Victoria that on Nov. 25, 1862, an accident occurred on the Melbourne and Murray River line at North Mel bourne, occasioned by the train to Sandhurst run. ring into the train to Williamstown; several per sons were injured, some severely, but none fatally. The claims for compensation amounted to £5,318, including the cost of legal proceedings, The expen diture on construction at the end of 1862 charged against the loan amounted to /7,246,798, but to this was added £332,140, being expenditure on construction at that date, cut of the consolidated revenue, upon which no interest was pay able, making the total expenditure £7,578,938. The capital then authorised to be funded for construction was £8,368,100, the annual interest upon which, when the whole of the deben tures were issued, would be £501,405. The gross revenue of 1862 was double that of 1861 ; the open ing of extensions in 1862 to some extent accounted for the increase. The net revenue had increased from £59,781 in 1861 to £147,789 in 1862. The percentage of working expenses upon revenue had been reduced from 65 per cent in 1861 to 54 per cent in 1862, a result showing that the increased net income had more than kept pace with the extension of the lines. The revenue on the Victorian railways for the year 1862 amounted to £320,308, or to 10s. per train mile, and the expenditure to £172,520, or 5s 51d per train mile, leaving a balance of £147,789. The report for the year 1863 described the diffi culties experienced in letting the contracts for the works to responsible contractors, the practice hav ing been to let the works at the lowest tender. For the first time since those lines were opened it was shown that the revenue from goods was Equal to that for passengers. Though the train mileage of the year was more than double that of 1861, yet the accession of traffic caused by the extension of the lines had increased the revenue per train mile 25 per cent., or from Bs. 3-1(1. in 1861 to 10s. 411. in 1863. The cost of working expenses per train mile during those years having remained with little variation at an average of 53. 41d., the per centage of working expenses to revenue had decreased from 651 per cent. in 1861 to 501 per cent. in 1863. The passenger revenue for 1863 on each of the lines was double that of 1861, while on the Murray and Bal larat lines the goods revenue of 1863 was five times that of 1861. The loss upon the Williamstown traffic, which in 1861 was £7,920, was reduced in 1863 to £3lO, there having been an increase in the passenger traffic of £4,780, and in goods traffic of £2,000, and a reduction in the expenses of £B3O, making together an improve ment of £,7610. The total revenue for the year 1863 earned by 39 stations on the Government lines for traffic amounted to £463,666, of which £182,235 was earned at the Melb , ,uree station, £223,868 at eight other terminal stations, and £57,563 at 30 intermediate stations. The expenses at those sta tions were £26,065, £30,701, and .C 17,695 respec tively. Thus the whole earnings of 30 intermediate stations were little mere than one-tenth of the whole revenue, while they absorbed nearly one-fourth of the station expenses. The construction expenditure cut of the loan to the 31st of December, 1863 amounted to £7,964,600, and of this £230,000 was estimated by the engineer in chief as expended on plant and works of the Echuca line. The natiocal debt therefore on lines open in 1863 was £7,734,000, and the net revenue shown for that year was £229,400, or 8 per cent. on the amount expended on construc tion. The Hon. J. M. Grant, commissioner of rail ways,observes that the expenditure on constructi on to out of the consolidated revenue, amounting £341,800, though not bearing interest, was yet a portion of the capital cost of construction, and the net revenue of £229,400, if taken upon a capital of £8,075,800, would show a reduced rate of 2.24 per cent., instead of the 3 per cent. The statement of the cost of construction of the Victorian railways including interest to the end of 1863, showed a total of £9,708,122—the amount of interest being £1,402,149. The total receipts on revenue account for the year 1863 were £464,694, or 10s. 4.67 d. per train mile, and the expenditure £235,292, or ss. 3d., leaving a balance of £229,402. GRAND TRLNK OF CANADA. The half-year's interest on the Equipment mortgage bonds of this company is to be paid on and after the 13th instant, and the half-year's interest on the Ist and 2d preference bonds on and after the 17th. The coupons in each case must be left at the company's office for three clear days. The warrants for the payment of the half-year's interest on the 3d preference stock are to be issued o❑ the 17th inst. SAMBRE AND MEUSE. The report of the directors states that the number of miles run by the trains during the last halt year had been increased as compared with the corre sponding half of 1863, there was a diminution in the number of passengers, and a slight increase in the weight of the goods carried, though the amount received had not been so great, for the low rates told heavily on this kind of tra.ffic. Notwithstand ing those drawbacks a considerable saving bad been effected in the working expenses, and the excess of revenue would allow of the payment of 4s. per share. Since the last meeting the agreement for the amalgamation of the undertaking with the Est-Belge and other companies had received the Itoyal assent, and the line was handed over to them on the Ist of July as agreed. Ureat progress had been made in the winding-up of the accounts. The definitive plans required by the Government to be sent in were nearly all ready ; and with the exception of the outlay mentioned in the agreement for the ere° tion of permanent buildings in certain stations where temporary ones only existed, no further ex• peuditure on capital account would have to be in curred. Tho directors congratulated the proprietors cn a state of affairs which freed them from any further difficulty on money matters; and, while it could never by any possibility become worse, must gradually improve as the lines which had been lately opened and those now in ccurse of construction at t4incd fail dhvelopment. The revenue account 130 had been received for the halt syheoarweedndtihnagt 36 t i he3oth of June last, and 1.:17,362 ex peene expenditure , a balance on the working of £18,748 r evig n on capital acount amounted to £1,119,576. NORTHERN OF FRANCE, The traffic receipts on this compqny's line for the week cuding the 29th Sept• amounted to £63,185, and for the corresponding week of last year to £60.617, showing an increase of £3,198• The total receipts from the Ist January last to the above date amounted to £2,146,345, against £2,031,751 for the same period of 1863, showing an increase of £114,549. WEST NORFOLK JUNCTION. The works of this line are about to be commenced, arrangements having been made for turning the first sod near the Heacham station, on the Lynn and Hunstanton line. The contractor is Mr W. S. Simpson, and as the works are to be carried on with energy it is probable that the line might be ready for traffic before the close of 1865. The Great Eastern has taken a large interest in the line, which will bring into connection with its system a part of Norfolk hitherto unprovided with railway communication. --- COCKERMOUTH KESWICK, AND PENRITII, This new railway is now rapidly approaching completion, some alterations required by the Go. vernment inspector having delayed for some weeks the public opening of the lice for traffic. The line commences at Penrith, about 18 miles south of Car lisle, by a junction with the Lancaster and Carlisle section of the London and North Western Railway, passes near the picturesque grounds of Greystoke Castle, and round part of the base of the mighty Saddleback. Crossing the vale of St. John's, and passing over about half a dozen bridges, the line enters Keswick, where a large hotel is being built by the railway company. The run from Penrith to Keswick will occupy about three quarters of an hour. From Keswick the line passes through Crosthwaite, close by the margin of Bassenthwaite Lake, to Peel Wyke, and thence through the Vale of Embleton to Cockermouth, and is there connected by the short Cookermouth and Workington Rail way with the Irish Sea. In addition to a large tourist traffic, however, the company expect a large traffic in iron ore, the new line shortening the route very considerably between the hematite ironworks in the west of Cumberland and the furnances on the east coast of England, the line being in close con nection with the Eden Valley Railway. Theatricals in France. GRAND OPERA.—M. Mermet's long-announced "Roland a Roncevaux," brought out here on Monday evening, may be considered the musical event of the day. We may premise that the subject is taken from the famous mediaeval " Chanson do Roland," composed about the 10th century by a minstrel named Theroulde. This poem is one of the most remarkable monuments of early European literature, and, like the noble lay of the Cid, and our own poetical romances celebrating the exploits of King Alfred and his knights, had a large share in forming and inspiring the heroic poetry and the chivalrous spirit of subsequent ages. M. Mermet, whose first production was the opera of "King David," which came out with indifferent success about the year 1846, has been engaged for the last 18 years upon this theme of Roland, and has at last, after many disappointments, succeeded in producing a work which, to say the least, places him in a high rank among French composers. The opera has this unique distinction, that the poem and the music are both the work of the same author. Roland the Brave is the nephew of Charlemagne, and the spot less Bayard of that heroic age. Charlemagne is returning with his army after the conquest of Spain ; and Roland, left in command of the rear-guard, is set upon by the Saracens and slain, with the flower of the Frank chivalry, in the valley of Roncevaux; these are the simple facts, but M. Mermet has interwoven a love story, by way of plot. Among the twelve paladins of Charlemagne there is a traitor—Ganelon—who is about to force a gentle lady —Alde—to marry him, but she loves Roland, and escapes ; the felon knight, bent on revenge, conducts the Saracen forces to the fatal valley; Roland is urged by the warlike bishop, Turpin, to blow a certain ivory horn, which would be heard by Charlemagne, and bring him to the rescue, but he and his knight choose to die rather than ask such aid ; the horn is not sounded till too late, and his lady love discovers him among the dead only in time to receive his dying breath, Of the overture to this opera little need be said ; it is a sort of prelude, composed of the leading melo dies of the work itself, and, with the final march, is not striking as a piece of instrumental music. The first and second acts form a prologue—somewhat too long—to the third, which is the grand culminating effort of the composer —the fourth act being little more than a finale. The first act is relieved from its too monotonous character by the " war song of Roland," very well given by Warot, and finely responded to by the chorus ; by a touching melody, "Le soir, pensive aux pieds des Pyre nees," by Mme. Gueymard, as Aide ; and by Roland's song with the chorus " Superins Pyrenees," The second act is unreasonably long, but is distinguished by several fine melodies and choral passages, a duo between Roland and Aide, " 0 dame de beaute," and a remarkably quaint and touching chorus, " 0 Roncevaux, vallon sombre. The third act, as already observed, is the gem of the opera ; 31. Mermet seems to have concentrated his powers on this portion of the work and it is full of telling dramatic as well as musical effects from beginning to end, The closing finale of the opera takes up the same theme, and the curtain descends amid universal plaudits, THEATRE ITALIEN.—Tho SOnnanabUla" was the opera selected for the commencement of the season on Saturday, but, in consequence of a slight indisposition of Mlle. Patti, we bad " Itigoletto," with a new tenor, Signor Sarti. After Mario, whose impersonation of the Duke was one of his finest efforts,the task of any other "Duke" has become diffi cult, and the shortcomings of the new substitute are perhaps all the more apparent. The difference in the present case is truly too great. M. Sarti's voice is not wanting in sweet ness, and in certain passages there is considerable power; but the upper notes are vague and uncertain. Perhaps in other and less ambitious roles M. Sarti may be useful, but in such as this- —never. Mare. Lagrange was rather cold in the two first acts, but warmed up later, and in the well known quartette sang well. Delle-Sedie was in ex cellent voice, and showed himself, as ho always does, an accomplished artiste. On Sunday evening " Lucrezia Borgia" was performed, Mme. Lagrange filling the part of Lucrezia, and Merle Lablache that of Orsini; and on Tues day "Lucia de Lammermoor," with Mmo. Lagrange, Franschiui, and Naudin. Wednesday may however be said to have been the real "opening night," as Mlle. Patti made her fist appearance for the season in the " Sortnarnbula," and was in splendid voice, and welcomed with fervid enthu siasm by a crowded house. It is understood that Mario will appear during the winter, and en revanche M. Naudin is definitively engaged for the Grand Opera, to which he will transfer his services after performing 15 nights at the Italiens. Brignoli, the much vaunted tenor from America, is to make his appearance first at Madrid ; this artist is not unknown in Paris, having made his debut here some 10 or 12 years ago with but indifferent success. ODEON.—A clever little comedy in one act was brought out in this theatre on Saturday called " Les Macs Terri bits," in which two match-making ladies do their utmost to get a husband for their daughters in the person of a young gentleman who is unfortunately already married, The two " terrible mothers" (Mmes. Bergeret and Ducoudray), rival vixens, each bent upon the discomfiture of the other, are capitally rendered, and the piece goes off with great eclat. Messrs Chivot and Duru were named as the authors, VAUDEVILLE,—Much public curiosity was excited by the announcement of a pity ac this theatre called "Le I)rac," written by Mme. Georges Sand, and adapted for the stage by M. Paul Meurice, but we tear that, though preceded by a great flourish of trumpets, this new piece will add no leaf to the laurels of its illustrious author. The Drac of Provence is the familiar elf, by tams benevolent or malicious, common to the traditions and legends of all nations—the Scandinavian " kobold" or " troll," the German " nix" or " bergmanneben" (hero of so many of Grimm's admirable stories), the "brownie" of Scotti-h rustic belief. The " drat" of Languedoc is the marine type of the spirit, and is supposed to interest him - self specially in the domestic affairs of the fishermen. The drama was originally written for the little domestic theatre of Mme. Sand at Nohant, and was published some three years ago in the Revue des _Deux Mendes. In its primary form it is very pretty and poetic; perhaps it would have been better to have left the piece untouched, or better still to have restricted it to its original destination. In its new and by no means improved form it is too fantastic, or else not fantastic enough ; the real and the supernatural are not sufficiently separated, and the ethereal element and the earthly are so mixed up that the illusion so necessary to dramatic enjoyment becomes impossible. In the prologue, which is in verse, the Elf of the Sea, who has become enamoured of Francine, a fisherman's daughter, asks per mission of eyanee, Queen of the Water, to assume mortal form; he accordingly enters into the resuscitated shape of Fleur de Mer, a S•oung sailor who has been drowned, and proceeds to pay gentle court to the young girl; but she being attached to a certain scapegrace Bernard, who is at sea, looks down upon the poor boy, whose too poetic adora tion she does not appreciate ; whereupon the elf, inspired by jealousy, plays such fantastic tricks as becomes his capri cious nature, inciting mischief and quarrels among lovers and friends ; but finding that the constancy of Francine is proof against all trials, he gives up his evil doings, and makes all parties happy—throwing off at last his mortal coil," resuming his ethereal existence, and floating away to his native region with a eong of joy, which is the finest part of the piece. Whatever be the intrinsic defects of the drama itself the name of the author will probably insure it a ,brief existence. Mlle. Jane E , sler, as the " Brae," proves herself an artist of the first order, and probably never appeared to greater advantage ; the subordinate parts were well sustained, and the scenic effects exceedingly good. TIIE BOUFFES-PARISIENS,—This popular little theatre reopened for the season last Friday, notwithstanding the embarrassing position in which it is at present placed by managerial and other disputes and difficulties. Besfdes " M'sieu Landry'' and "Mesdames do la we had a new opera•bouffc, by 31, Tunas, "Le Manoir do la ilenardiZre," in which a family of retired tailors ambitious of aristocratic distinc tion purchase an ancient mansion, intending to live en grand seigneur; but the " vassals" who have found them out, play off all sorts of tricks to get the parvenus ousted. It is a laughable little operetta, and is chiefly remarkable for the appearance of Mile. C. Milroy, once one of the queens of the melodrama. By the way, we see that " Les Deux Aveugles, which had so great a run at this theatre, has come out at Saigon in Cochin China. SPIRIT OF THE PUBLIC JOURNALS. 'TIE " SATURDAY REVIEW" ON OUR NEW FOREIGN POLICY.—Mr. Cowper not only enjoys peculiar opportunities of knowing the opinions of the chief to whom he is so nearly related, but has also been endowed by nature with an ingenuous mind which is incapable of a niggardly secrecy. Accordingly, as might have been expected from one in his position, he has taken the first opportunity of explaining to the world his stepfather's foreign policy. No one can say that the moment is inop portune. Lord Clarendon just now is trying to influence the policy of Austria by threats of deser tion in one contingency, and promises of assistance in the other. The phrases are vague enough, but there is a possibility that Austria may construe them according to the rules of language tradi tionally current among diplomatists. It was highly necessary that Mr. Cowper should step in to set her right, and to explain to her, in his own lucid and forcible style, the exact practical meaning of Lord Russell's sec et cassant lecture writing and Lord Clarendon's mysterious hints. The principle was expressed with great clearness. A previous speaker had been hoping that the opinion of the country had been sufficiently declared in fa vour of allowing other people to look after their own affairs. This aspiration did not suit Mr Cowper. He denounced it as selfishness and isolation. "The right principle," he said, " to be adopted in foreign affairs is this—we are bound to do what we can, to use what strength and influence we have, to support right against wrong, to support the oppressed against those who tyrannise over them." At first sight this seems as belligerent language as that to which we have been recently accustomed in Foreign Office despatches. But, like its prototype, it is capable of explanation. Mr Cowper goes on to intimate that the Crimean war was a great waste of money and blood, and that "this nation did not attempt to assist the Danes by force of arms for this reason—that the whole armies of Germany were pouring their mighty strength upon the little State of Denmark." That is something like an heroic sentiment. Perhaps it might have been more seemly and judicious, even if Mr Cowper is himself Danish in feeling, still to use German topics and arguments as the policy of his Governs ment became eventually favourable to the Germans. But nothing can restrain his candour in dissecting the motives of his distinguished relative. Nature has kindly put a difference between dogs and men in respect to the expression of fear, and by cutting off the tail from the human species, has enabled them, when they experienced that depressing emo tion, to conceal it from the eyes of their fellows creatures. But Mr Cowper disregards the bone. ficent provision of nature, and will put his tail be tween his legs in public. That there may be no mistake about it, he goes on, with the magic con ciseness of genius, to embody in a single sentence the whole foreign policy of our : "Our Government business in foreign affairs is to express our sympathy, and use that freedom of speech which is the great privilege of Englishmen." This is the interpretation clause by which we may construe the former too bellicose declaration about using our strength and influence to support right against wrong. It is obvious that DO accusation of undue pugnacity can be made against this principle, and the most advanced political economist can find no fault with it. It is baying the gratification of our sympathies in the cheapest possible market. It is supporting right against wrong in the most inexs pensive manner in which that holy task was ever performed. In one sane it may be regarded as an actually profitable operation. The lack of matter is a serious drawback to the enjoyment of orators at those bucolic festivities at one of which this remarkable manifesto was uttered; but a great load will be taken off their minds if is is to be under stood that they may enlarge without limit in their expressions of sympathy upon all possible foreign affairs. This doctrine will have a tendency also to ennoble after-dinner speechification. It has hitherto been thought meanly of as a clumsy instrument for trotting out notabilities, and enabling lionehunters to gratify their curiosity and digest their dinners at the same time, But now it wilt take ra nk as th e solemn performance of " our business in foreign affairs." Every post-prandial orator is now in the nature of a Foreign Secretary. Ho is transacting in a free and easy way the bu s iness w hi c h th e Fe reign Office exists to transact in a more formal way. He is wielding England's chosen weapons against tyranny and wroeg. If we are to vindicate that righteous cause by the employment of freedom of speech, it is pleasing to reilisct how full an arsenal of that safe and comfortable weapon we have at our command, and how many active champions we rimy always count upon. What the effect of this new system will probably be is an interesting subject of inquiry. It opens a ;it - lolly novel and untrodden path. The plan of resisting wrong and tyranny by freedom of speech alone has never been tried on a large scale any w ere except at Billingsgate; and it is impossible, with out further investigation, to ascertain the exact amount of influence that has been acquired thereby by the fishwives of that locality. It is not easy to judge of its probable results by analogy, because the polity of Europe is almost without a parallel. It is the rudest and most ins rtifical system that was ever applied to the maintenance of what is called law. There is no tribunal to judge, no executive to punish, no definite code of law to enforce, no repre sentative body to legislate. The nearest reseni. blance that can be found for it is the internal self government of a public school, where the shifting public opinion of the boys furnishes the code of law, and where any boy who chooses to under take the office is combined judge and executioner. We have to suppose that one of the biggest boys suddenly announced that he had had enough of licking other big boys. The last time he had at tempted to do it, he got so mauled that it was quite unpleasant. Besides, the boys whom he tried to lick had an awkward habit of kicking, and he did so hate to have his shins kicked. He therefore in tended for the future never to interfere with any big boy with his fists. He should continue to lick the little boy; but if a big boy did anthing wrong, or bullied a little boy, he should not touch him with his fiats; but he warned the big boys if they would do such things it was his full intention, as a matter of sacred duty, to swear at them to the utmost of his ability. The question is whether that boy would con tinue, on the strength of his swearing ; to occupy an ieflaential position in the school, Perhaps, at first, the other boys might not believe him, and might think it was only that he was chaffing, or had got a lazy fit. But when, after a time, they had discovered that he really was in earnest, and was too much afraid of the consequences to venture on attacking any boy of his own size, the question is whether they would mind his swearing ? Would they not rather think him a somewhat shabby and a very impudent fellow, for venturing to slang boys whom he dared not fight ? Would not their instinctive im pulse be, when his objurgations began, to tell him, in scholastic vernacular, to " hold his jaw ? " question whether England will obtain any other answer than this to the unarmed counsels which it appears she is to b e perpetu a lly proffering., There are probably no set of men in the world so perfectly impassive as the statesmen of the Continent to frees dom of speech and expression of sympathy, so long as these exhibitions are not, an d cannot be suspected the to b e, freedompreludesof speech e a s n eb appeal wb iebto consistfor c e i n ch a o f st after r partsd inner of harangues they w ou ld probably pass over with simple disregard. It is possible that they might not even hoar of them. Official despatches cone ceived in the same style of unwarlike menace and fernenine objurgation would force themselves more obtrusively into notice; but how long it would be thought worth while at the vario us Chancelleries to give them even a civil reply, Nvould depend much upon the character of the Minister at each. M. von Beust would probably dismiss them at once with a contemptuous snub, w hile Count Itechberg might preserve his civility a litt le longer. But the diplomatists would most polite of dipget tired at last of having sermons read to him on week-days by British ambassaders. Knowing that they meant nothing and could come to nothing, he would The think the ceremony an intolerable bore. en cyclical letters of the Pope are bad enough,. but a Minister need not Lear ' them unless he likes : It would very eon come to be a matter of private agreement between the Minister at each Court and the British Amb assa d or that Lord Russell's horta tory deepatches,like a railway repert,shohld he taken as read. And then, perhaps, we might discover that it was not worth w hil e to keep a Foreign Secretary and a Foreign Office,'and an expensive corp s ori)sr) liilo matique, for th e Tau - pose o f writing a receiving despatches which nobody cared to read. Warlike intervention i . a vary serious thing,and is cHfiertlt i to exaggerate th e a d van t ag es of avoiding t when that can be done. But the possibility of war is the only thing which give: the slightest value to Foreign Office despatehes,or saves them from being the most tiresome of waste paper. Tam "EXAMINER" ON THE CONVEYANCE OF GUNPOWDER.—Oce point alone is clearly ascer tained as to the explosion at Belvedere, that it commenced with one o f t h e barges, and, therefore, most important is the inquiry into the rules re specting fire and lights in the barges, and the prac tices of the men, whether conforming or not to their orders. Mr. Hall stated on the inquest—" No lights are allowed in the magazine or in the barges. When barges are conveying saltpetre or brimstone from London to our mills at Faversham, cooking is allowed on board, when the hatches are down and two or three tarpaulings are over them ; but for the up-trip with gunpowder, their food is cooked at home before they start. They have never fires on board when near the magazine. In case of ad verse winds the barges are sometimes a week coming up. We do not allow smoking, in fact, at all, and I am not aware that any of our bargemen were ac customed to smoke on board a barge." Mr. Mark, the foreman of Faversham mills, was next examined, and explained- 4 ' The gunpowder is carried in the hold, and there is a fireplace in the cabin of the barge, The hold and cabin are separated by a wooden partition, the cabin side of which is lined with lead. The hold and the cabin are some dis tance apart." The Foreman—Has it been at all the practice to permit the use the use of fires and cook ing apparatus on the voyage up ? Witness replied that he could not say what the men did when they got eway." This last answer sums up all to be said on the matter. But the rule respecting fire the men could hardly venture to break when be yound supervision, for the powder barges are well known on the river, and the smoke from a funnel could not escape notice, and would probably be reported to the owners, If, however, the risk were run of a fire on the passage up—the double risk of the danger and of dismissal for disobedience —it is not conceivable that it would be kept burn ing alongside the wharf, under the eyes of the store keeper. With contrary winds, when it sometimes takes, as Mr Hall states, a week to beat up to Bel vedere, the men might, indeed, possibly be tempted to make a fire to dress food ; but the extreme risk of discovery makes the imprudence highly impro bable. If, then, the explosion began from a spark in one of the barges, we suspect that a pipe was the cause of the mischief. The temptation of the pipe seems almost irresistible, and it can be indulged in with the hope of escaping discovery. Bat would men be so imprudent as to risk destruction for such a gratification ? The imprudence of men in a'dan. gerous occupation is in direct proportion to the peril. Thus seamen are notoriously the most imprudent of men, and it will be observed in all employments that neglect of precaution prevails in exact accord ance with the need of it. To render the conveyance of powder by land or water free from danger, we take to be a sheer impossibility. To diminish risk to the utmost is all that is practicable. A few years ago a powder boat belonging, if we remember rightly, to Dartford, blew up in Blackwell Reach, without any discoverable cause. Her cargo was hatched over, battened down, and tarpaulened. A barge in beating up against a foul wind, from Faver sham to Erith, a direct distance of about 40 miles, goes over about 120 miles of river in her zig-zag course, and must be often crossing the course of steamers with sparks flying from their funnels. She must often, too, in her tacks in shore come within reach of sparks from the land. Howcan these dangers be guarded against ? The supposition was, that the boat blown up off Blackwall was fired by a spark from some steamer. And here we must ask why the very slowest sailing craft is employed in a bnsiness which cannot be too soon got over? Cut ters would make the passage against contrary winds in a fourth of the time, but as their stowage is not so large for their tonnage as that of barges they cost more. Should this, however, be a con sideration where safety is concerned ?—and a whole fleet of smacks would not cost so much as a single accident. The calamity at Belvedere has drawn attention to the Purfleet magazines, the explosion of which would be the destruction of half London. There is no isolation of those immense magazines. They are surrounded by a wall, that : is all, They abut upon the village, and are far nearer than they should be to the mills and depots on the other side of the river. It was a happy circumstance that the wind blew from Purfleet when the Belvedere explo sion occurred. Bat it is assumed that the measures for safety are so perfect as to provide against all accidents, and so much was this presumed upon that the powder used to be proved upon the pre mises. The proof was thus double-proof of the strength of the powder, and proof of the construc tion of the magazines; but what if there had been any defect in the latter We refer to the impru dent practice some thirty years ago, and know not whether it is continued now. Bat the village is not fireproof, and imagine what the peril and con sternation would be if Purfleet were in flames, with a strong easterly wind. The safest and best spot for a great powder depot on the river would be the Isle of Canvey, half down the north side of Sea Reach. The dreary place is quite clear of houses for miles, excepting the public house at Old Haven, which might, doubtless, be purchased if the cora pletest isolation were desired. THE " SPECTATOR" ON THE PRINCE OP WALES AND THE VICEROYALTY.—The idea of utilising the English Princes as they rise to manhood seems to have taken a strong hold on many minds. Lord Derby avowed two or three years ago that it was one of his dreams to see them all Vic roys, and the response from the other side of the House was far from unfavourable to his dream. " A Colonist" in a pamphlet before Ud argues vehemently in favour of the election or appointment of one of them to the throne of the Canadas, and changing kingship into hereditary viceroyalty, that solution of the Colonial puzzle might have its recom mendations. The main difficulty would be to induce men born to the position of Princes Arthur and Leopold--for Prince Alfred has, as the public always forget, a Duchy of his own not yet mediatised---to accept a rank at once so doubtful, so onerous, and so distant. The most serious de mand cornea, however, from Ireland. The Irish have caught at a suggestion that the Prince of Wales if resident for three months in Dublin might be either an excellent sub stitute for the Viceroy or still better Viceroy for himself, and every Irishman who makes a speech reiterates warm approval. The strong monarchical feeling of the country, which has shown itself time and again during the worst periods of Irish discontent, is fixing itself upon this pro posal, and we should not be surprised to find the odd cry of " Wales for the Irish" change into a serious popular de mand, It does not seem, if the Prince be willing, a very unwise proposition. There is no doubt, in the first place, that Ireland has some just ground of complaint in the course pursued partly from policy, partly through accident, by the reigning House. Ever since its accession it has treated the island as if it were a colony, has visited it at long intervals, has been received on every occasion with enthusiastic re spect, and has steadily avoided residing for more than a few days at a time. Till the invention of steam and rail roads there was a reason for this apparent slight ; it was inconvenient that the Sovereign should be so far absent from the centre of business, and the arrangements made while he was in Hanover would have been almost indecorous as preparations for a tour within his own dominions. The King, too, when in the islands at all lived usually in London or its neighbourhood, and the prior claim of the capital was acknowledged with out any serious heartburning. New facilities for locomo tion have, however, removed the physical difficulty, the Queen resides habitually in the northern or southern extre mity of Great Britain, London does without a Court with half-chagrined placidity, and Ireland asks a little sorely why it is always avoided, why the Sovereign should make a home in the Highlands and never see her third kingdom, and the Heir fix himself in an out-of-the-way corner at the eastern extremity of Great Britain. It is felt to be useless, as well as unmannerly, to importune a lady naturally at tached to a spot where the happiest hours of her life have been spent ; but the Prince, it is argued, might reasonably show towards Ireland the "countenance" which has made the Queen mistress of all Scottish hearts, and which would in Ireland re-awaken the sentiment of personal loyalty which her people understand so much better than loyalty to an institution. The feeling is so much the deeper be cause Irishmen are not so much annoyed at the refusal of rights of which their demagogues talk so much, as at the air with which those rights, sometimes more than those rights, are usually conceded. Ireland is the poor relation, to be helped and excused, sometimes even to be petted, but made to feel that she is the poor relation still. That is the position from which her people desire to escape, and which the residence of any part of the Royal family would do much to end. The Castle is, even when considered as a representative pageant, only a seeming Court, with sham dignitaries, and a tinselly ceremonial, and the Irish, who like all Cells, really appreciate splendour, would ltke some thing a little more real. That may be very absurd of the Irish, but as the English have for ages been occupied in at once defending their monarchy, and reducing its active powers, and are now worrying the Queen to allow them a little more of the colour which the visible presence of a Court throws over aristo cratic life, the sarcasm does not lie very gracefully in their mouths. if the personal presence of the Sovereign or her son does tend to make the monarchy popular in Scotland, to add to reasonable appreciation of its benefits the warmer sentiment of personal liking, why should it be less efficacious among a race in whom sentiment is so much stronger, personal regard so much more of a motive power ? Nothing would tend to remove the barrier between Irish and Eng lish feeling so much as the Prince's residence, nothing re lieve the country so rapidly from the sense, absurd but real, of lacking its just grade in the empire, of a permanent and most humiliating want of caste. Even the material advan tages of the step are not to be despised in a country which esteems itself, through its habit of comparison with England, so annoyingly poor. The citizens of Dublin say the, Castle helps to enrich them, but all they have gained by it since it was founded would be as nothing to the profit of making Ireland fashionable among Englishmen, of turn ing the stream of gold which is now manuring the High lands over a hitherto neglected country. If Ireland, with its lakes and mountains, its scenery and its sport, became a favourite summer residence for the English wealthy, the gain would be equal to that of a new commerce, and they would follow the Prince as swallows follow the summer, Above all the innovation would enable the Government to abolish either visibly or in practice the sham Viceroyalty which more than any other institution tends to reduce Ire. land below its rank in the empire, and to make the people believe that Government is but an instrument to be used for party purposes, and assailed ex necessitate rei by the party which happens to be out of power. Even if the Prince were appointed Viceroy, an arrangement which would have the advantage of giving him a distinct political position, and consequently remove the temptation to become King of the Opposition, he could not reside in Ireland more than three months in the year, and the work of continuous administration must be left to the Parliamentary Secretary unembarrassed by the knot of prejudiced intriguers who throng the backstairs of the Dublin establishment, The Viceroyalty would gradually be transmuted into a Court —the Viceregal residence into a " season" infinitely plea santer and much more profitable to trade. During the nine months the country would be governed just as Scotland is governed, and as it ought to have been governed ever since the Union, by a Parliamentary department unimpeded by the local jobbery and petty intrigues which are fostered within the Castle. During the three it would find itself the residence of a real and wealthy Court,second only to that of the Sovereign, and subject to the influx of society, cultiva tion, and wealth, which annually turns the Highlands into a kind of colossal park created for the enjoyment of Lon don. The Viceroy who as Prince had resided in Ireland would be sure as king not to neglect it, and a new and hitherto untried bond—that of personal liking between the people and the Royal House—would be established be tween the countries. Of the two schemes suggested the easier perhaps would be the mere residence—tbe establish ment of the unrecognised Court which always springs up where the Prince is present, and which might reconcile the people of Dublin to a formal extinction of their viceroyalty, But either would be better than the present arrangement, and the object being to content the people, their opinion, however unwise, must be allowed its weight. It cannot be too often repeated that the hearty conciliation of Ire land, the change of its present attitude into that which Scotland maintains, wonld be a gain to the empire worth half a century of progress—would add at a stroke one third to our effective resources. The first step towards that end is to induce Englishmen to know Ireland, and the Prince would be of all mankind the most effective pioneer. THE "LONDON REVIEW " ON THE GREAT PRIZE FIGHT.—The assertors of the noble art of self-defence have this week sustained a bitter disappointment. They had assembled in Dublin, and had purchased railway tickets to Cashel for the pleasure of witnessing the fight between Mace and Coburn, which was fated not to come off, and they are now fain to return to England with the object of their journey unaccomplished. Why Ireland was chosen for the scene of the encounter one can pretty well imagine. Since the great fight between Heenan and Sayers there has been a feeling on the part of the professors of the noble art that the good old times had come back, and that pugilism was destined again to show its facp in open day and enjoy the patronage it once possessed, The belief and its practi cal expression have raised the indignation of the decent portion of the community, and as these luckily constitute a large majority, magistrates and police have been on the alert to put a stop to prize fights, and have done so in some instances with success. Pugilism thus beset in England looked across St. George's Channel for a clear stage, It thought, no doubt, that in Ireland a fight of any kind would be a welcome spectacle ; and so, when Mace and Coburn had resolved to try conclusions, they arranged that their meet ing should take place somewhere in the neighbourhood of the Irish capital, not nearer than 20 miles, and not farther off than 100. But it seems inherent in the Irish character to baffle expectation; and though nothing could be more logical than the reasoning which selected the sister country for the scene of the promised mill, it was fated to be re versed by the result. The Irish police were actively on the alert, and the temporel arm was aided by the spiritual in a manner which promised to be effective. Dr Cullen issued a short but vigorous pastoral, directing his clergy to warn their flocks against any participation in the misdeeds, of foreign gladiators ; and it is probable that if the men had met they would, under this twofold agency, have been prevented from carrying out their ruffianly intention. It would appear, however, that the genius of the soil had more to do with the fiasco in which their wager has ended than even this well-meant obstruction. The insuperable difficulty of getting Irishmen to agree upon any given sub ject extended itself, perhaps by atmospheric influence, to the brace of pugilists. Everything was ready for the fight. A goodly company of English lords and commoners, and even clergy—if we may believe the correspondent of the Daily Telegraph—had assembled on the railway platform, en route for Tipperary, where the fight was to come off somewhere between Goold's Cross and Cashel, and of course there was the usual assemblage of gentlemen with broken noses and foreheads villanously low, who keep the ring upon these occasions. But when they arrived at Goold's Cross only one of the men faced the spot. Mace was not forthcoming. After going through the customary process of training, the affair went off upon a dispute as to who should act as referee, and the "immense multitude" which had assembled to witness the encounter had to go without its promised amusement. Thus, the only harm which has resulted from the wager is, that a considerable number of the hangers-on of the Fancy, who expected to turn it to pecuniary account, have found themselves without means to return to Eng land. Some have got over this difficulty by borrowing from benevolent supporters of the noble art ; others, we may presume, have taken a shorter cut out of their embar rassment, by levying black-mail on the inhabitants of Dub lin, for we read that "cleptomania" had been prevalent, and that much personal property had changed hands. But though the fight was defeated by a squabble between the parties themselves, there is no reason to doubt that the police themselves were active enough to have prevented it, even had the men agreed on the choice of a referee. And we feel assured the t if equal vigilance were employed on this side of the Channel, the disgusting exhibitions of the Ring would not so often disgrace us. If the supporters of the noble art can get the "office"—learn, that is to say, when and where a fight is to come off—the police surely can be equally successful, if they have a mind, THE " READER, " ON THE INDEX TO TOTE TIMES,— Few persons, we fancy, read the "Review of the Year" which, on the 31st of December or the Ist of January, is annually put forth by our industrious daily contemporaries. Composed though it be by a writer of talents and attain ments, of matured experience and original thought, it is yet impossible that so ever-recurring a composition should ex hibit very marked features, or avoid falling into a prescribed form. A gentleman of great eminence in letters and science told us that, when he first set forth on travels which have since become famous, he tried to write a poetical adieu to his native land. But Byron had been before him, and, twist and turn the verses as he might, he could not keep the " little foot-page" out of them ; so he abandoned the attempt in disgust. For similar reasons it is difficult to write a review of the year without an exordium upon the progress of time ; and anybody who attempts to say any thing new upon that subject must have discovered that all the fine reflectiJns of which it has been the occasion may be summed up in the remark of Mr Dickens's philosopher in the Fleet Prison—" What a rum thi4g time is 1" ad dressed to the gentleman who was paring the mud off his shoes with a four - and - twenty-bladed pocket-knife. There is no getting beyond this comprehensive view of the subject; and, as the reader is as well aware of the fact as the writer, there is at the outset a dangerous temptation to skip, which the subsequent paragraphs about the year having been marked (or not, as the case may be) by important events on the Continent, which contrast (if they have any existence with the continued tranquillity enjoyed at home,as well as the remarks upon the struggle in America and our own supe rior way of doing things in this country. tend to foster and encourage. The article, indeed, must of necessity amount to little more than a Queen's Speech, elaborated, gifted with unquestionable grammar, and raised generally to literary pretensions. Such a performance, whatever its value as an aid to reflection with persons in reduced intellectual circum stances, can furnish but scant fare to the active and vigor ous mind. As a reference for facts it is worth exactly nothing. Its essential aim is generalisotiok ; and you con no more extract details from the concoction than you can ladle out the curacoa flavour from the champagne cup. It is nothing more, in fact, than a gentle reminder for which the reader has either no necessity or no use, Compare the con ventional "review of the year," such as we have described, with the "Index to the Times for 1863," now lying before us, You cannot turn over the leaves of the latter perform ance without being stimulated and invigorated. You have traversed a country to which you can never possibly return; but the Index will bring it back to you. There is not a spot in that land. of the past from which you may not appro priate may object at will, and you may renew your acquaint ance with all whenever you please. The file of the Tunes, to be sure, was always open—but so was a Pacific Ocean, which men do not dream of navigating without a compass and a chart. You might, it is true, find your way about the Times territory if you happened to know it. You might discover one place by remembering that it was near another of whose direction you had some idea; or you might wander about on speculation with ten thousand chances against you and exposed to interruption from as many things you did not come to see, but which would, nevertheless, excite your curiosity. Here you would be caught by a leader and falsely imprisoned for ten minutes or more. A reviewer would perhaps follow with an interesting onslaught upon your intimate friend who happened to have written a book. Then would come a pelting of small paragraphs, hitting your intelligence very hard, and inflicting severe wounds upon your credulity. You might escape with only these inflictions; but the chances are that you would get into bad company and find yourself at a police-court or the Old Bailey. In any case, your chances of tracing the re quired facts would be very small indeed. To bring this chaos into order, to reduce it to rule by which it may be explored on certain and recognised conditions, was a grand idea; and, this present being the second year of its deve lopment, we may suppose that the design will be perma nently carried out. It is, indeed, a great field we have before us. Mr Cobden to the contrary notwithstanding, we cannot declare a single number of the Times newspaper to be worth the whole history of Thueydi les ; but its value (we take the Times as the representative of the daily press) must be very great to have suggested the parallel to a sane statesman. And here, in the present volume, are no less than 313 numbers all reduced to order and obedience—pre pared to serve us in every possible way, like so many statis • tical slaves. THE " ATHENIEUNI" ON THE PERILS OF THE HOUSES OF PARLIAMENT. -- Does anybody wish to see the Houses of Parliament burnt down? If so, there is some chance that he may be gratified. If any one doubts that such is the case, let him go by steam boat from Westminster to Du ibeth, and observe how near to the south, or Great Tower e ad of the building stands a vast heap of dry straw, somet, imes amounting to nearly 0 hundred tons, and let him calm elate also what may be the burthens of the three, four, five or six barges which, laden with the same material, lie at the foot of the heap aforesaid, and would add not a little to 1 ;he impressiveness of a con' flagration, should such a thin! ; happen. As these craft way be moderately set down at frot n 25 to 20 tons burthen each, the mass of inflammable ma ,tter is ecsily estimated. n would be an extreme asserti an if we said the distance between this mass and the wit allows of the Houses exceeds 80 or 100 feet. An officer of ti to Rouses assured us that the heap has frequently been on fine, and we fully credited the statement on observing how he a rtily the lady of the captain of one of, the barges was enjoy i ng her pipe at the moment we contemplated the pecular and thoroughly British arrangement of straw and Pali .ce in such near neighbour hood to each other. The oue thing needed to bring them together in disastrous conflagration was wanting that lay in the good woman's peaceful pip We forecast the probable effects upon English art, of bri Iging these things together by that means, and perceived t hat more than one question of moment might be solved thereby, and disposed of O r ever—e g., the merits of storm lleorne and fresco painting, the permanency, and even the a rtistic value of all the pie' tures on the Palace walls, na3 , even the quality of the stone of which the last are built, to say nothing of the O . spective merits of the several pr lesses for preserving the same. By the time we had arri vo d, in imagination, at the e point of the consequences Bugg carted, which related to til burning of Westminster Abbey, ribs lady in question ha d finished her pipe, and having, ere wiping the deck of the little caboose, thought fit to assume her crinoline, she 11 04 having homely duties to perform, d ivested herself of th at garment by a simple but indescribable t process, and "wont below." It is beyond question that a he poked the fire, 911 " that :we saw bright red sparks asce o.d from the domestic) hearth beneath, and go overboard wit la much blue saioke• The wind might have taken them the other way, in whic h case, let us hope the fireman of the pa rish of St. John the Evangelist, -Westminster, or whoevc r has charge o f the engine in the neighbouring church, w .ou Id have been a w ar/ active of body, courageous of heart, I and decisive in action ; let us hope also, for the sake of cart Ain millions spent at Westminster, that the tide would ha' ye been high, the A re mains filled, and the turncock at hand ~ Industrial Exhibition at tho Agricultura l Hall. Great preparations are making at thi 9 Agricultural Fla!' Islington, for a North London Wor kin ig Classes Industrls Exhibition, to be opened at that - vat .t establishment 0° Monday, the 17th instant, by Earlll.u, ssell, who has und er ' taken to preside on so interesting on 'se casion. The objec ts of this exhibition, which is under the. patronage of the Barl of Shaftesbury and a host of distingu isi ied and philanthrop i° gentlemen connected with the met ropolis, is to bri n g together as large an assemblage as p os sible of works of en artistic, scientific, end useful charac:te r, the production e the artisan who is the exhibitor, ma sat tfactured in the ordr nary way of business, being specimen s of superior worit.' manship or of novelty in design; new inventions or °tar nal contrivances to economise labour o r time ; and usefu l, artistic, or ornamental articles, which may have been 1 1° . duced in spare hours, whether by tv , orl king men or working woman. For the most superior procln ctions in the various departments prizes aro to be award ed in the respeet iT° classes, and although during some ()A the day exhibition? the Agricultural Hall is to be opened ito the general pub l , lo at a charge of 6d., with a view of ens:Wing working peol Y° to see it, and to bring its advantages within the roach ° f t every member of the industrious and! humbler classes Si society, the admission fee is to be r educed each evenin; from seven till ten o'clock to 2d. .A series of pub lic) meetings have been held in various p arts of the metre.' polls in support of the project, and at the last, held on day evening at the Parochial School-room, Arowell-stre et , / Clerkenwell, Mr W. Watts, of the gen er al superintende nt department, of the London and North Western Railweit the hon. secretary, gave some interesting details of the Pr° grass and prospects of the forthcomi tag exhibition. I ° stated that the society had disposed of: 1,500 space paper' s upon application for space, and upw: ,rds of 200 had been already returned, duly filled up, stating• the amount of span! required and the character of the work to be exhibited, sin' no doubt the whole of the remainder would be received b, the day:and the hour specified in the en. using week, so as t° be included in the catalogue. The Ag.eicultural Hall W almost ready for the reception of article s, and on Monday morning (to.morrow) the committee would commence with the reception of pictures, which would require artistic st # rangement, and the whole of the preparations would h al o to be completed by 8 o'clock on the morn ing of the open in day, Monday, the 17th. Tho guarantee fund, from noble's men, gentlemen, and others supporting tile movement, nes ( amounted to over £350, and Mr Samuel Morley had els ° given his guarantee personally for £lOO. Th e prograrate ° of the inaugural cerersony,which will be very imposingl in ‘ eludes the services of Miss Louisa Pyne, Miss Leffler, g e E. Gayler, Mr Lewis Thomas, and other of our first-rate professional artistes, and a choir of u,pwards of 10 voices, the musical arrangements being conducted by James Wesley, of Winchester Cathedral, who will preside' at Willis's grand organ. Earl Russell, will be conducted to the platform, as chairman, at 3 p.m., by tb e committee and officers, and on being seated the choir wi ll sing the hundredth psalm, " All people that ou earth, &c. At the conclusion Mr W. J. Watts, hon. sees will read the report, and the chairman and company l inspect the exhibition. On returning to the platform Russell will deliver an address, and declare the exhibition open. A special ode, composed by Mr W. H. Bellarep and set to music by Dr Wesley, will then be sung by Dill Louisa Pyne and others; and prayer having been offered:. up by the Rev Robert Maguire, M.A., incumbent of Clerk" enwell, the inaugural ceremony will conclude by the e bn r and assembly singing the National Anthem. The Object is i an excellent one, and the support it is receiving from the n: dustrious classes themselves, as well as the general pub!lci is calculated to insure for this novel and useful exbibitoil the most perfect success.— Obset vor. COUNTRY MAB,KETS. YORK—SATURDAY. A moderate supply of wheat on offer from the farmers tll morning, and a good trade was done, the prices of,: ila ,. - 0 week being is per qr advance on fine descriptions. 1 . -,e - as was a fair show of barley, but the demand was limited.;„ about late rates. Oats were a moderate show, and inact's —seconda-y sorts rather cheaper. Beans in fair supply - barely late prices. 2 03 4i , Wheat, red 37s to 40s I Oats.... l B3 to a , White do .40s to 44s Beans 408 to Barley .27s to 32s Peas to ---0 Malt, 58s to 60s per qr. ; rye, 30s per qr ; . flour, 303 to 32s per sack. LEICESTER—SATURDAY. 119 To-day there was an abundant show of wheat, prinoig i ',.o. of the new crop. Business firm, and in favour of seb e :, Barley plentiful, with a steady sale. Oats about late rat i 6 —Old white wheat, 42s to 44s ; red, 40s to 42s stone. New white, 44s to 48s'per 36 stone. Malting ba r , new, new, 33s to 36s per qr.; grinding, 25s to 275 ; old (n o , 30s to 325; new oats, 24s to 27s per 24 stone. 13e 7, - old, 41s to 43s per 38 stone ; flour, 31s to 39s per 20 atoll". GRANTHAM—SATURDAY. t's° 'At our market to-day wheat came fairly to hand, en- A trade was active; prices were is per qr. more La°n e t P ; —Old white wheat, 42a to 45s ; red, 39a to 41a per 31,.; new white, 40s to 44s ; red, 40a to 435. Malting ban, 31s to 36s per qr ; grinding, 27s to 30s ; oats, old, 2 ,,u 6 265; new, 19s to24s; beans, 31s to 40s ; peas, 34s to 3IS' NO —SATURDAY. ni vl e 6 We had a moderate TTINGHAM supply, to-clay, most of the sa—cl being of the new crop, Th e d eman d was very fair, s r .. lest week's prices were fully maintained. Barley canto, ther freely to hand, and sold a t f u ll prices. Oats to° New beans the turn cheaer. —White wheat, from 42s p to 51s ; red wheat, 40s to 44 : 9 : Barley—malting, 32s to 35s ; grinding, 28s to 295. °I II old, at 26s to 30s Od; new, 23s to 265. Beans sold at to 44s per qr. ; new, —s to —s. Flour, fine, 28s to 30s ; super, 34s to 37s per 20 stone' NORWICH—SATURDAY. There was only a limited supply of wheat to-day, ~9 1 , n , ; trade was rather improved at is advance upon last vfe„,,,l prices. In barley there was a fair supply, and prevw prices maintained. f 4 White wheat. 44s to 45s 1 Red wheat 36s to 38 ' ll ' Malting barley ...35s to 36s Chevalier barley 3 - Bto 32 64 Distilling do . 29s to 30s Oats.. 24s to Flour, 28s Od to —s Od per sack from the Births. Of ANDERSON.—On the 7th inst.. the wife of De Laned Anderson, Esq., 2d Queen's Royals, of a daughter. of ALLEN.—On. the 3d inst., at Stoke Newington, the vlif° Joseph Allen, Esq., of a daughter. FORD.—On the 7th inst„ at Cheltenham, the wife of C9P tain St. Clair Ford, of a eon, •of Of Lys.—On the 7th inst., at Bare Regis, Dorset, the sr l F. D. Lys, Esq., of a son. Marriage& rd , ARTHUR—RICE.-0/1 the 6th inst., at Mount Tame ba ce, John Raynor Arthur, Esq., of the Bombay Ci v il Sio, third surviving son of the late General Sir Geo. A rt heil K C. 8., to Aileen, third daughter of the Hon. s te p Spring Rice. .ar o ltal PORTMAN — MORDIUNT.—On the sth inst , at D'Evile, the Hon. and R ev . W a l ter B er k e l e y Portr ua o ; rector of Corton Denham, Somenet, to Alice, young daughter of the late Sir John Mordaunt, Bart. Deaths. iLo I B lackheath,Lßrussels.y Richard t —eo ia the - Dfi cl ' BLACKWOOD.—On the 5111 inst., at the Vicarag e, 0 dieton 'ryas, Yorkshire, Pinkstal Blackwood, Esq" f li' ita B o 7th inst., Katherine,youn g est d o u- O e e I hard a A ge d d y e e ix ß y ai e l a y r , a. Esq., of Dartinouu -terr Dartmouth-tern n Of COLLING --On the 7th inst,, at Harwich, John - °llin Esq., of Park Villas, Holloway, aged 70. -F Ott FLINT.—On the 6th inst ,at Margate, Thonans 1 Esq., aged 77. GOORD.—On the 6th inst., Mr. Thomas Goord, of Llite Grove, West Iloathly, aged 67. _.........ei London: Printed and Frbilahed by WILLIAM AN DI ' A ) 1 12 S . of No. 11.2, Strand, Printer, at THE SUN °Mee Ir of Strand, in the Precinct of the Savoy, in the CCpn tY 1111dalesex,—Monday, October 10, 1801. THE SUN LONDON, MONDAY EVENING% OCTOBER 10, 1864.